Fog proof watch crystal

ABSTRACT

A one piece hollow watch crystal which prevents the condensation of water on the underside of the crystal of a watch. This crystal is of such construction so that it may be used on the common watch case bezels. The interior space of the device receives demoisturized air or may be vacuumed out.

United States Patent Hancock, Jr.

154] FOG PROOF WATCH CRYSTAL [72] Inventor: Frank R. Hancock, Jr., 16 Broad Street,

Asheville, NC. 28801 [22] Filed: Jan. 16, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 3,458

[52] U.S.Cl ..58/91 [51] Int. Cl. ..G04b 39/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..58/90,91, 105

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,304,421 5/1919 Wachter ..58/91 1,333,194 3/1920 Wachter. ..58/91 2,463,315 1/1949 Rosen..... ....58/90 X 2,854,815 10/1958 Piquerez..... ....58/91 X 3,030,763 4/1962 Klingenberg ..58/91 X 51 3,657,876 [451 Apr. 25, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Stephen J. Tomsky Assistant Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr.

ABSTRACT A one piece hollow watch crystal which prevents the condensation of water on the underside of the crystal of a watch. This crystal is of such construction so that it may be used on the common watch case bezels. The interior space of the device receives demoisturized air or may be vacuumed out.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAFRZS I972 3. 657. 876

INVEN 0k. FRANK R. HANCOC/(JA.

FOG PROOF WATCH CRYSTAL This invention relates to watch crystals, and more particularly to a fog proof watch crystal.

It is therefore the main purpose of this invention to provide a fog proof watch crystal which will be of such construction so as to be received by ordinary tools in any watch case bezel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a watch crystal of the type described which will prevent the condensation of water from forming on the underside of the crystal.

Normally the warm moist air in a watch is kept warm by the wearers arm and condensates on the underside of the crystal when the crystal is suddenly cooled by a raindrop, an airconditioned room, or submerged in cool water and so on. When this condensation is sufficient to touch the hands of the watch, it will be drawn through the watch mechanism and therefore ruin the watch if it is not cleaned in time. The present invention by its inherent structure will prevent this from happening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crystal of the type described which may be installed on any watch case bezel with the same insertion tools that watchmakers use for regular waterproof crystals and the device may include jewels or other bodies on the interior which will be fixedly secured therein to serve as numeral characters for telling time, rather than utilizing the face. This arrangement will allow the decorative appearance of the watch to be changed readily by the installation of a crystal of like structure but having a different ornamental design.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a fog proof watch crystal which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross sectional side view of the present invention shown in elevation; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a modified form of the invention.

According to this invention, a fog proof watch crystal is shown to include an outer transparent wall 11, an inner transparent wall 12 and a space 13 defined between walls 11 and 12. Space 13 may be vacuumed out or moisture free air entered therein, the edge 14 being closed. The space 13 in com bination with the outer wall and inner wall of crystal 10 serves to prevent the buildup of condensation within the watch by forming an insulative barrier. The structure of crystal 10 includes an annular lip 15 of edge 14 which allows crystal 10 to be received within a watch case bezel in themanner of the or dinary crystal in order that crystal 10 will remain secure.

Looking now at FIG. 2 of the drawing, one will see a modified form of crystal 16 having an outer wall 17 and an inner wall 18 defining space 19 similar to that shown of the main embodiment of the invention. Space 19 may be vacuumed out or filled with moisture free air as was heretofore described and jewels 20 may be secured in a spaced apart relationship within space 19 and thus form a watch face on the interior of crystal 16 which may be incorporated on watches that do not include the ordinary face on the interior beneath a crystal. The edge 21 of crystal 16 also includes an annular lip 22 which provides retaining means for crystal 16 within a watch case bezel.

What I now claim is:

l. A fog proof watch crystal for the replacement of ordinary crystals in watch case bezels, comprising in combination, an outer wall and an inner wall, said walls being spaced equal distanceapart except at their peripherial edges which are integrally formed together by means of an interconnecting narrow edge wall there between, a central space thus formed between said walls carrying a gas of a non-moisture nature said peripherial edge additionally having an annular and protruding lip there around for being received within a watch case bezel in order to retain said crystal within said watch, jewels and the like being located within and secured in the hermitically sealed space defined between said walls, said ewels serving as decorative numerical characters for telling time, and said hermitically sealed space forming an insulation barrier to prevent condensation on an underside of said crystal. 

1. A fog proof watch crystal for the replacement of ordinary crystals in watch case bezels, comprising in combination, an outer wall and an inner wall, said walls being spaced equal distance apart except at their peripherial edges which are integrally formed together by means of an interconnecting narrow edge wall there between, a central space thus formed between said walls carrying a gas of a non-moisture nature said peripherial edge additionally having an annular and protruding lip there around for being received within a watch case bezel in order to retain said crystal within said watch, jewels and the like being located within and secured in the hermitically sealed space defined between said walls, said jewels serving as decorative numerical characters for telling time, and said hermitically sealed space forming an insulation barrier to prevent condensation on an underside of said crystal. 